The Autism Education Trust - AET

24/10/2025

Why has the AET Progression Framework become one of the most widely used autism resources in mainstream schools?

Because it was built not just for schools, but with schools.

Developed through consultation with teachers, SENCOs, autism specialists and support staff, the framework reflects the practical realities of classroom life.

It provides a structured way to plan, support and review progress in areas that are often overlooked—but essential for autistic learners.

It covers key domains such as:

Communication and interaction

Social understanding

Sensory processing

Flexibility and information processing

Emotional regulation and more

And it does so with clarity, usability, and built-in tools that save time—not add to your workload.

Educators using the framework say it gives them a consistent and evidence-based way to showcase the impact of the work they do every day, especially in areas outside the traditional curriculum.

If you’ve ever wished for a tool that helps you support autistic pupils holistically, while also aligning with the SEND Code of Practice and Ofsted’s inspection framework—this is it.

Discover why so many practitioners use and value the Progression Framework: https://bit.ly/3UVECy5

Helping you support autistic children and young people since 2007

20/10/2025

Supporting autistic pupils and pupils with ADHD often requires teachers to adapt teaching approaches while balancing the needs of the whole class.

This October, as we recognise ADHD Awareness Month, our ‘Autism and ADHD’ webcast provides practical guidance to:

Better understand overlapping differences in attention, processing, and emotional regulation

Apply inclusive strategies that foster participation and reduce barriers to learning and engagement

Strengthen collaboration with families and colleagues to support learners consistently

By adopting Good Autism Practice within a neuroinclusive framework, teachers can build classrooms where every learner feels understood, supported, and able to succeed.

Shop your Autism and ADHD webcast here: https://bit.ly/3Ki8LW1

Helping you support autistic children and young people since 2007

15/10/2025

Effective support for autistic learners starts with one key question: what really matters to this individual?

The AET Progression Framework helps educators answer that question—and then turn the insight into targeted, measurable action.

With its structure based on 8 Areas of Learning and supported by a comprehensive bank of learning intentions, the Progression Framework offers clarity in a complex space.

It enables schools to:

Understand each learner’s unique profile

Set and personalise goals aligned to EHCPs and wider life outcomes

Review and demonstrate progress using clear, accessible language

Build shared understanding across staff, parents and services

Autistic learners often make extraordinary progress when they are supported in ways that honour their individuality. This framework helps schools to notice, capture and celebrate that progress—not just for accountability, but to genuinely improve practice.

If you’re looking to bring focus, direction and measurable outcomes to your autism support, the AET Progression Framework is a proven way forward.

See how it can transform your planning and provision and turn insight into action with the AET Progression Framework: https://bit.ly/3UVECy5

Helping you support autistic children and young people since 2007

10/10/2025

October marks ADHD Awareness Month—an opportunity to reflect on how schools can better understand and support neurodivergent learners in the classroom.

For many pupils, co-occurring autism and ADHD bring unique strengths alongside additional support needs in areas like attention, organisation, emotional regulation, and communication.

Our “Autism and ADHD” webcast explores practical, evidence-informed strategies for teachers and leaders in mainstream settings.

Our topic expert, Jill Harper-Hill ,offers insights into how differences in processing, learning, and engagement affect the classroom experience and provides tools to create more inclusive, supportive environments.

Shop your Autism and ADHD webcast here: https://bit.ly/3Ki8LW1

Helping you support autistic children and young people since 2007

07/10/2025

We all want learning to be personalised. But how do we turn that ambition into something practical, measurable—and meaningful for autistic learners?

The AET Progression Framework is more than a checklist. It’s a person-centred planning and assessment tool that places the child or young person at the heart of every decision.

With built-in tools like the Priorities Questionnaire, Individual Learning Plan, and Progress Scale, it helps practitioners focus on what’s important to the pupil and for the pupil, supporting both short- and long-term outcomes.

This makes it particularly effective when aligning with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), preparing for Annual Reviews, or designing interventions in areas like emotional understanding, social relationships, or sensory regulation.

For schools looking to strengthen inclusive practice, the framework offers a consistent and structured approach—without losing sight of each learner’s individuality.

Start planning with a tool that adapts to real learners, not the other way around: https://bit.ly/3UVECy5

Helping you support autistic children and young people since 2007

01/10/2025

This deepen your understanding of autism and ADHD and how they commonly intersect.

With over 15 years of experience as a secondary school English teacher, our topic expert Jill Harper-Hill brings a wealth of knowledge to this webcast.

Jill blends her personal experience as a neurodiverse person with her professional insights to make this webcast a must-watch for anyone looking to understand more about ADHD and create a truly inclusive, supportive classroom.

In this webcast you'll learn:

✅ Key insights on how autism and ADHD intersect
✅ Practical strategies to support autistic ADHD learners

✅ Real-life experiences of an autistic and ADHD individual


Shop your Autism and ADHD webcast here: http://bit.ly/3Ki8LW1

Helping you support autistic children and young people since 2007

29/09/2025

Is your school using a shared language and approach when it comes to supporting autistic pupils?

Consistency is one of the biggest challenges in SEND practice—especially when staff teams are large, or when learners are supported across multiple settings.

The AET Progression Framework helps bring alignment and clarity to this process by providing a common structure for identifying learning priorities, setting realistic goals, and measuring meaningful progress for autistic learners.

Designed to work alongside the SEND Code of Practice and Ofsted’s Intent–Implementation–Impact model, it supports whole-school reflection as well as classroom practice.

By embedding the Framework across your setting, you can:

Improve the quality and consistency of learning plans and EHCP targets

Equip staff with a shared understanding of how to assess progress beyond academic attainment

Foster more structured, informed conversations with families and professionals

Whether you’re working in a mainstream, special school, or alternative provision, the Progression Framework is a powerful step towards more inclusive and evidence-informed practice.

Bring your team into alignment and elevate your SEND offer: https://bit.ly/3UVECy5

Helping you support autistic children and young people since 2007

25/09/2025

"I’d recommend this to all school staff who work with autistic learners. It offers a great insight into understanding autistic individuals and how you can get to know them even better."

Jodi, Secondary School Teacher

'Autism Re-Explained' was written and created by a SENDCO, teacher and parent of autistic children.

This popular explainer video is packed with practical advice and lived experience insights.

You’ll hear from autistic young people who share their unique experiences and perspectives.

Get practical tips for making your classroom more inclusive and recommendations for specific resources, tools and guides that offer you strategies that can be easily integrated into your daily classroom routine.

Whether you're an ECT or a seasoned pro, this video is a must-watch that will help you:

✅Improve your understanding of autism
✅Create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment
✅Build stronger relationships with your autistic learners

Shop the video now and start making a difference to the lives of your autistic students: https://bit.ly/3K0kHLN

Helping you support autistic children and young people since 2007

22/09/2025

September isn’t just the start of a new academic year—it’s an opportunity to reimagine how we measure success for autistic pupils.

The AET Progression Framework gives you the clarity and structure to turn big ambitions into actionable goals. Its eight key Areas of Learning, supported by a comprehensive set of learning intentions, make it easy to personalise support for each learner and track their development over time.

Perfect for use during start-of-year assessments and planning meetings, the Framework enables you to:

Understand individual profiles quickly and effectively

Set targeted learning goals aligned with wider life outcomes

Monitor and evidence progress in ways that matter to pupils and families

Bring focus and confidence to your September planning with a framework designed to empower educators and learners alike.

Explore how it can transform your approach this year:

https://bit.ly/3UVECy5

Helping you support autistic children and young people since 2007

18/09/2025

"For me, walking through the school gates was like getting ready for battle." Anon, Autistic Young Expert

Emotionally based school avoidance is one of the most challenging areas in education, particularly with autistic learners where absenteeism rates continue to increase year on year compared to non-autistic peers.

Autistic pupils can find navigating the social world of school confusing and stressful.

Although they may appear to be coping at school, autistic young people can experience high levels of stress and anxiety. Often their emotions remain bottled up until the end of the school day and released when they are at home, where they feel fully loved and accepted.

Families can see different behaviour at home to that at school and this can be confusing and distressing.

If the triggers for this behaviour are not identified and addressed at school, it can lead to emotional based school avoidance and mental health needs.

Our FREE resource 'Schools Stress and Anxiety - Emotionally Based School Avoidance and Impact on Family Life' explores the issues and reasons surrounding it and ways to help reduce its prevalence.

Download here: https://bit.ly/47hAkIx

Helping you support autistic children and young people since 2007

15/09/2025

One of the most powerful features of the AET Progression Framework is its comprehensive bank of over 700 Learning Intentions, organised across eight key Areas of Learning—from communication and interaction to sensory processing, emotional understanding, and independence.

This structure allows teachers and leaders to:

Quickly identify personalised priorities for each autistic pupil

Create achievable, meaningful goals tailored to strengths and needs

Track progress in areas that traditional academic frameworks often overlook

For educators preparing for a new academic year with new learners and goals, this resource provides the clarity and confidence to plan effectively from the start.

Learn how the framework can transform your planning and practice:

https://bit.ly/3UVECy5

Helping you support autistic children and young people since 2007

11/09/2025

Continuing our spotlight on the new academic year and supporting transition for our autistic learners, we invite you to Join Holly and Amanda to hear about the experience of starting school.

Part of the new Autism Central Transitions podcast, topic experts discuss managing different life changes, from starting school, to moving into work and getting older.

Listen now: https://bit.ly/3JK03iV